Agitating mechanism for potato diggers



Aug. 11, 1953 A. E. YOUNG 2,648,437

AGITATING MECHANISM FOR POTATO :DIGGERS Original Filed July 6, 1945 Patented Aug. 11, 1953 AGITATING MECHANISM FOR POTATO DIGGERS Austin E. Young, Syracuse, N. -Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., acorporation-of Illinois Original application July 6, 1945, Serial No. 603,472. Divided and this application May 29, 1947, SeriaI No. 751,292

14 Claims. 1

This application is va division'of my co-pending application, filed July 6, 1945, Serial No. 603,472, now U. S. Patent 2,544,744, issued March 13, 1951.

The present invention relates generally to agri cultural implements and more particularly to potato diggers and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a potato digger vhaving an elevator or conveyor chain and provided with a novel form of agitation and agitation con-- trol, whereby all of the excess soil raised with the potatoes by the digging blade or blades will be eliminated Without excessive bruising or 11nnecessary handling of the potatoes or other root crop.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention .will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which one form of the present inventionlhas been shown by way of illustration.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of a two-row potato digger showing particularly the agitation control with which, according to the principles of the present invention, the digger is provided.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary-top view of the agitation control lever shown in Figure ,1.

Figure 3 is a'fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, showing an optional position of the agitation control mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral l indicates the main frame of the digger. The main frame i includes right and left hand main frame bars, each of which, as shown in detail in the parent application identified above, comprises front and rear angles disposed, respectively, at the front and rear of the machine, with their horizontal flanges overlapping and secured together, as by bolts 01' the like. The rear frame angles are indicated in Figures 1-3 by the reference numeral 21. Two main wheel brackets 25 are secured, as b bolts 29, to the vertical flange of the mainframe angle section 21 in depending relation. The two brackets '25 are rigidly connected together by a main tubular cross member 33 which preferably is welded at .its ends to the brackets 25 to form therewith a rigid supporting and bracing structure. The main frame is supported centrally on a pair of ground wheels (not shown). The main frame I of the digger supports a digging shovel and supported on the latter and the rear portions of the "frame I is a pair of potato conveyor or elevator chains H. in the'preferred construction, as shown in the above-mentioned parent application, the

digging shovel comprises two sections whereby the di ger is adapted to dig potatoes from two rows, the potatoes being delivered generally to the central portion of thermachine and deposited onto the s tound. The conveyors or chains H are of conventional construction and hence have been illustrated only fragmentarily in Figure 1. The chains H are supported on a plurality of rollers, more or less conventional, so far as the present invention is concerned. .The front portions ,of the chains H engage front agitating sprockets .(not shown) and rear agitating sprockets 83 which, during operation, successively engage portions of the associated elevator or conveyor chains .and agitate the same in a vertical direction, as in conventional pra tice. The sprockets B3 erelmounted on the angles 21 and acenterlmain frame member .(notshown). The rear portions of the conveyor chains ll pass around and are driven by pairs of sprockets at the rear of the machine.

Mention was made above to the fact that the front and ,rear agitating sprockets impart a certain amount of vertical agitation to the potato chains H so as to Shake loose dirt, debris :and the like from the potatoes. The major work of agitating the potato chains is usually done by the front agitating sprockets and also the agitating sprockets forward of the tubular "cross frame member '33.. By the time thepotatoes reach the rear part of the machine, usually practically all of the ,dirt and the like has been shaken from the potatoes. Under certain rather severe conditjions, however, it may be necessary to provide continued agitation .even at the rear of the machine. .However, it is ,not ,always necessary to provide much agitation, and in some cases no agitationat 'all, at the rear ends of the chains ll is necessary. Therefore, according to the principles :of "the present invention, =I have provided adjacent the agitating sprockets '83 a new and useful mechanism which in the presently preferred structuretakes the form of a resilientlymounted auxiliary chain supporting means for controlling the amount of agitation that is imparted to the rear portions of-theconveyor-chains.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings,fI provide an auxiliary supporting means for the rear portion of the chains which auxiliary supporting means includes a cross shaft 'l-IU that is mounted by suitable bearing means carried by the rear portions of the main wheel brackets 25 and two pairs of arms fill that are fixed, as by welding, to the shaft H0, as best shown in Figure l. Secured to the swinging end of each of these arms is a "bearing bracket on which a smooth chain-supporting roller 1 [:3 is journaled. Each of these rollers H3 is disposed in alignment with the other associated agitating sprockets and rollers, but the arms III are of such length that by rocking the cross shaft II!) in one direction or the other, the rollers -II3 may be raised into a sufficiently high position to lift both chains 1I entirel off of the rear agitating sprockets 83 and/or at least partially off of the front agitating sprockets. Lowering the rollers I I3, as by swinging the cross shaft I If) in a clockwise direction (Figures 1 and 2) will serve to let the chains 1I down to a greater or lesser extent onto the agitating sprockets 83 and thus cause the latter to impart more or less agitation to the chains.

The cross shaft III] is provided at one end with an operating arm I2I which is apertured at its swinging end to receive a pivot or bolt I23 by which the lower end of an operating and adjusting link I24 is connected thereto. The upper end of the member I24 is formed with a handle section I25 and also a plurality of notches I26 along its forward edge. As shown in Figure 1, the operating link I24 passes upwardly through the apertured portion I21 of a plate I28 which is bolted, as at I29, to the main frame. Swingably mounted on the pivot I23 is a short arm or abutment I33 which is apertured to receive a bolt I34 by which the lower end of a spring I35 is connected thereto. The upper end of the spring I35 is anchored, as at I36, to the laterally outer portion of the plate I28. When the arm I33 occupies the position, relative to the link I24, shown in Figure 1, the head of the bolt I34 engages the forward edge of the link I24 and hence the tension in the spring I35 tends to keep the rear edge of the link I24 against the rear end of the slot I21 through which the link I24 extends. The spring I35 therefore acts against the abutment arm I33 to keep the notched portion on the link I24 away from the front edge I38 of the slot I21. When in this position, the link I24 does not prevent the up and down movement of the arm I2I and the consequent rocking of the shaft IIU. However, the spring I35 also acts through the arm I2! and associated parts to hold the agitation control rollers I I3 in an upper position, but the spring I35 yields downwardly proportionately to the amount or weight of material on the chains 1I. Therefore, with the parts arranged as shown in Figure 1, an automatic agitation control is provided inasmuch as the greater the load on the chains the greater the amount of agitation, since the more the spring I35 yields the more the chains 1I will be permitted to lower and the greater their amount or extent of contact with the associated agitating sprockets 83.

If desired, a link I4I may be connected, as at I42, to the rear end of the arm I2I and extended upwardly to a point, as at I43, where it may be connected to the arm I44 of a shock absorber mechanism I45, which may be of conventional construction, acting as a dashpot to prevent or restrain too rapid oscillation of the shaft I In and arm I2 I. Preferably, the shock absorber I45 permits free movement in the downward direction but restrains sudden upward movement of the rollers III.

Referring now to Figure 3, the spring I35 and associated parts are so arranged that the arm I33 may be swung around to a rear position, with the head of the bolt I34 engaging the front edge of the link I24 so that the spring I35 now acts against the abutment arm I33 in its rear position for holding the link so that one or the other of its several notches I26 interlocks with the forward end I38 of the slot I21. By virtue of this arrangement, the arm I2I may be held against oscillation and the rollers III maintained in a given position, which position may be adjusted manually by momentarily releasing the link I24 and raising or lowering the same so as to raise or lower the rollers III. The link I24 is easily accessible to an operator on the seat of the machine.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A potato digger comprising frame means,

non-circular agitating sprocket means rotatably carried thereby, a conveyor chain carried by said frame means and adapted to pass over said agitatmg sprockets for rotating the latter which serves thereby to impart agitation to said chain and the material conveyed thereby, an auxiliary cha n-supporting means, means connecting said chain-supporting means for generally vertical movement relative to said frame means while at least partially supporting said chain in different generally vertical positions relative to said agitating sprockets, and spring means connected to act generally vertically between said frame means and said chain-supporting means for urging the latter upwardly, said spring means being adapted to yield generally proportionately to the weight of the chain and material thereon, whereby the conveyor chain and the material thereon is supported in different positions relative to the associated agitating sprockets, so that when the chain is more heavily loaded the amount of agitat1on imparted thereto by said sprockets is increased. 2. For use in a potato digger or the like which includes means serving as a frame, the improvement comprising a part shiftable relative to said frame means, a locking link pivoted to said part and having a plurality of notches therein, means servingas an abutment on said frame means with which the notched portion of said link is adapted to engage for locking said part against movement, said link being swingable away from said abutment means to provide for moving said part, means on said frame means for limiting the movement of said link away from said abutment means, a part shiftable relative to said frame means into two positions, one in which said part engages one side of said locking link and the other position being one in which said part engages the other side of said locking link and sprmg means adapted to act between said frame and said part for optionally urging said locking link either into engagement with said abutment means or out of engagement therewith.

3. An attachment for controlling the generally vertical position of a conveyor element relative to conveyor-contacting rotary agitating elements carried by the frame of the conveyor, said attachment comprising a part engageable with said conveyor element and movable relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said agitating elements, a latch member pivotally connected with said part and movable relative thereto into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said part relative ,to said frame, a spring member, means for connecting one end of the latter to said frame, and optionally disposable means connecting the other end of said spring member to said latch member for yieldably urging the latter into either one or the other of said positions ,of the latch member, said last named means including an arm receiving said other endiof said spring and shiftable between one position, in which said arm bears against said latch member at :one side of a line connecting said one end of said spring and the point of pivotal connection of said latch member with said part, and another position in which said arm bears against said latch member at the other side of said line.

4. An attachment forcontrolling the generally vertical position of a conveyor element-relative to'conveyor-con'tacting rotary agitating elements carried by the frame of the conveyor, said attachment comprising a part engageable with said conveyor element and movable relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said frame, a latch member pivotally connected with said part and movable relative thereto into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said part relative to said frame, a spring member extending generally alongside said latch member, means for connecting one end of the spring member to said frame, and means connecting the other end of said spring member to said latch member at one side of the pivot connection between the latch member and said part, said spring member acting through said latch member for yieldably urging the latch member and said part for movement toward said conveyor element and holding said latch member out of engagement with said frame.

5. An attachment for controlling the position of a conveyor element movable along a frame, said attachment comprising a part movable relative to said frame and engageable with said element for holding it in different positions relative to the frame, a latch member, means connecting the latter to said part for movement relative thereto about an axis into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said partrelative to said a frame, a spring member, means for connecting one end of the latter to said frame, a spring-receiving member connected with said latch member and shiftable into positions on opposite sides of said axis, and mean connecting the other end of said spring to said spring-receiving member, whereby said spring member acts through said spring-receiving member against said latch member for yieldably urging the latter into either one or the other of said positions of the latch member.

6. An attachment for controlling the position of a frame-supported conveyor element relative to associated rotatable agitating elements, said attachment comprising a part engageable with said conveyor element and movable relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said agitating elements, a latch member connected with said part and movable relative thereto about a pivot axis into two positions, one in which said latch member engages said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said part relative to said frame, a spring member, means for con-- nectingone end ofrthe latter 'to "said frama means tions of thelatch member, saidspring in either position of said latchmember acting through the latter for urging said part upwardly toward 'the conveyor element andserving to yieldingly bias the latter for upwardmovement relative to the agitating elements when the latch member is held in saidother position.

7. The combination with conveying and agitating apparatus of the type including .a, frame, 'a conveyor element movable over said frame, and

rotatable agitating elements carried by said frame under said "conveyor element and adapted to agitate the latter whenever contact between the ccnveyorelement and said agitating elements causes the latter toberotatedof a part engageable "with said conveyor element and movable relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said agitating elements, a latch member connected with .said partand movable relative thereto into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member-is movable with said part relative to said frame, a spring member, means for connecting one end of thelatter to said frame, and optionally disposable meanscconnecting the other end of said spring member to said latch member for yieldably-urging the latter into either one or the other of said positions of the latch member.

8. The combination with conveying apparatus of the type including a frame and a conveyor element movable over said frame, of apart engageable with said conveyor element and movable relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said frame, a latch member connected with said part and movable relative thereto into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said part relative to said frame, a spring member,

means for connecting one end of the latter to said frame, and optionally disposable means connecting the other end of said spring member to said latch member for yieldably urging the latter into either one or the other of said positions of the latch member.

9. The combination with conveying apparatus of the type including a frame and a conveyor element movable over said frame, a part engageable with said conveyor element and mov able relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said frame, a latch member, means connecting the latter to said part for movement relative thereto about an axis into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said part relative to said frame, a spring member, means for connecting .one end of the latter to said frame, and means connected with said latch member and shi-ftable into positions on opposite sides of said axis and receiving the other .end of said spring for connecting the other end of said spring member to said latch member for yieldably urging the latter into either one or the other of said positions of the latch member.

10. The combination with conveying and agitating apparatus of the type including a frame, a conveyor element movable over said frame, and rotatable agitating elements carried by said frame under said conveyor element and adapted to agitate the latter whenever contact between the conveyor element and said agitating elements causes the latter to be rotated, of a part engageable with said conveyor element and movable relative to said frame for holding said conveyor element in different positions relative to said agitating elements, a latch member connected with said part and movable relative thereto into two positions, one engaging said frame for locking said part against movement and the other in which said latch member is movable with said part relative to said frame,

a spring member, means for connecting one end of the latter to said frame, means connected with said latch member and shiftable into positions on opposite sides of said axis and receiving the other end of said spring for connecting the other end of said spring member to said latch member for yieldably urging the latter into either one or the other of said positions of the latch member, said spring in either position of said latch member acting through the latter for urging said part upwardly toward the conveyor element and serving to yieldingly bias the latter for upward movement relative to the agitating elements when the latch member is held in said other position.

11. Means for controlling a conveyor element movable along a frame, comprising a part rockably attachable to said frame, conveyor engaging and lifting means carried by said part, an arm fixed to move with said part and swingable therewith alongside said frame, a latch member pivotally connected with the outer end of said arm and having one edge notched and the other edge smooth, abutment means adapted to be carried by said frame adjacent said arm and having an elongated slot receiving said latch member, the latter being shiftable in said slot from one position, in which the notched portion of said latch member is lockingly engaged with said abutment means at one end of said slot, to another position in which the smooth portion of said latch member shiftably engages said abutment means at the other end of said slot, and optionally operable means for holding said latch member in said positions at the ends of said slot.

12. Means for controlling a conveyor element movable along a frame, comprising a part rockably attachable to said frame, conveyor engaging and lifting means carried by said part, an arm fixed to move with said part and swingable therewith alongside said frame, a latch member pivotally connected with the outer end of said arm and having one edge notched and the other edge smooth, abutment means adapted to be carried by said frame adjacent said arm and having an elongated slot receivingsaid latch member, the latter being shiftable in said slot from one position, in which the notched portion of said latch member is lockingly engaged with said abutment means at one end of said slot, to another position in which the smooth portion of said latch member shiftably engages said abutment means at the other end of said slot, spring means adapted to be connected at one end with said frame, and means bearing against one side of said latch member and connected '8 with said spring and arm for urging said part into conveyor-engaging position and yieldably holding said latch member in a position with its smooth portion engageable with said abutment means and shiftable therealong when said springv means yields in response to changes in the weight of material on said conveyor element, said means being shiftable so as to bear against said latch member at the other side of said latch member and yieldably hold the notched portion of the latter interlocked with said abutment means.

13. Means for controlling a conveyor element movable along a frame, comprising a rockshaft rockably attachable to said frame, conveyor engaging and lifting means carried by said shaft, an arm fixed to said shaft and swingable therewith alongside said frame, a latch member pivotally connected with the outer end of said arm and having one edge notched and the other edge smooth, a plate adapted to be fixed to said frame adjacent said arm and having an elongated slot receiving said latch member, the latter being shiftable in said slot from one position, in which the notched portion of said latch member is lockingly engaged with said plate at one end of said slot, to another position in which the smooth portion of said latch member shiftably engages said plate at the other end of said slot, and op tionally operable means for holding said latch member in said positions at the ends of said slot.

14. Means for controlling a conveyor element movable along a frame, comprising a part rockably attachable to said frame, conveyor engaging and lifting means carried by said part, an arm fixed to move with said part and swingable therewith alongside said frame, a latch member pivotally connected with the outer end of said arm and having one edge notched and the other edge smooth, abutment means adapted to be carried by said frame adjacent said arm and adapted to receive the notched portion of said latch member in interlocking relation therewith, said latch member being movable out of locking engagement with said abutment, spring means adapted to be connected at one end with said frame, and means bearing against one side of said latch member and connected with said spring and arm for urging said part into conveyor-engaging position and yieldably holding said latch member in a position out of locking engagement with said abutment means, said means being shiftable to the other side of said latch member for yieldably urging the notched edge thereof toward said abutment means.

AUSTIN E. YOUNG.

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